November 12, 1971 - Nursery Cryme

It's November 12, 1971, and this is already my third album of the month, with the release of Genesis' third album "Nursery Cryme". After the release of "Trespass" last year, guitarist Anthony Phillips quit the band due to it's increased touring schedule. Singer Peter Gabriel, keyboardist Tony Banks and bassist Mike Rutherford decided to replace drummer John Mayhew at the same time with someone who was a little more talented. The chosen replacements were new guitarist Steve Hackett and new drummer and backup vocalist Phil Collins. The new 5-piece set out to further expand their musical ideas on this album and Banks adds Mellotron to his keyboard repertoire. What will this new Genesis sound like? Let's find out!

Side one begins with the near ten-and-a-half-minute "The Musical Box" which opens with a slow section with some cool guitar bits by Hackett and also some cool flute by Gabriel. Around the 4 minute mark Collins' drums cue a faster part and Hackett gives us a pretty sweet guitar solo. Banks also plays what I think is a Mellotron solo that sounds great as well. It ends with another part with Banks on organ now and Gabriel's singing to complete a solid progressive song. Track 2 is called "For Absent Friends" and is sung by newcomer Collins. His voice is pretty good, and it sounds quite similar to Gabriel's. It has some cool twelve-string acoustic guitars and for a song under 2 minutes it is pretty decent. Side one is ending already with another 8-plus minute song, "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed". The lyrics talk about the hogweed plant, which is an invasive species, but they take it very far, saying that these plants are coming to kill the humans! It has an awesome organ opening by Banks and he plays several different keyboards on this song, all of them to great effect. Rutherford plays some solid bass as well, and Gabriel also delivers a pretty sweet flute solo. They start a new part with some fantastic piano by Banks and the song ends with a great extended instrumental bit with lots of food drumming by Collins. Genesis are sure off to a fine start on this record!

Side two begins with "Seven Stones" a slower song with some decent guitar and organ. Gabriel's singing fits the mood very well and there is a cool bit with him on flute and Banks on Mellotron. The next song is called "Harold The Barrel" and is led by a cool fast piano riff by Banks. Gabriel sings very quickly and it's a cool 3-minute song for sure. Track 6 is titled "Harlequin" and features Rutherford on twelve-string acoustic guitar. He plays two different riffs on the same guitar for a cool effect and Banks adds some more cool Mellotron in the background. The record's final song is "The Fountain Of Salmacis" which has an epic organ opening by Banks. He plays it and the Mellotron extensively on this track and there is some great stuff. Hackett delivers an excellent guitar solo in this one and Gabriel plays some more cool flute as well. With three songs over 8 minutes, Genesis are really showing their progressive changes on this album.

That is the end of "Nursery Cryme" and I think it was a pretty good album. "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed" is my favourite and an awesome song, and the other two progressive epics are also very well done. But how does it compare to "Trespass"? I think it's a tough decision, both albums have several great songs. But the best song on their second album "The Knife", and "Nursery Cryme" expands on all the best elements of that song. I give the nod to "Nursery Cryme" and am excited to see where Genesis go next with this (in my opinion) improved line-up. But don't go away, there's another fantastic prog album coming out today!